DPS meters and why they're necessary

[Kazumac]

Yes keeping players ignorant of their performance seems like a great way to make people play together nicely... /sarcasm.

I'd much rather see tools given to help players become better players and improve their performance. Ignorance is not the answer to social interaction issues. I typically see more acceptance of constructive criticism when a person actively sees where they line up in the dps rankings.

[File2ish]

I'd much rather see tools given to help players become better players and improve their performance. Ignorance is not the answer to social interaction issues. I typically see more acceptance of constructive criticism when a person actively sees where they line up in the dps rankings.

But the abuse of this is all to easy.

Sure, you'll get some people offering constructive criticism to the MNK not properly positioning himself for each ability, the BRD not using his DoTs or bloodletter as often as he or she should, or the BLM who is using Fire III and Blizzard III as his only rotation. I'm sure they may be more willing to see their faults and take advice when they see some numbers, but you will get many "good" players who see a "bad" player, offer no advice, call him or her "bad", and votekick/vote abandon/leave.

Some people have a way of being assholes to others because they are "better". Sadly, there are quite a lot of people like that.

[Kazumac]

Some people have a way of being assholes to others because they are "better". Sadly, there are quite a lot of people like that.

Yes but they will act like that even if the dps meter isn't around. At least with a meter you'll know if they have a point (though veiled in insults) or if you can ignore them because you are doing fine.

With a meter it will change from "your dps sucks learn to play" to "your dps sucks it's only xyz learn to play". At least they will be informed :-p (and so will the dps in question). Right now we are playing with a half informed player base and that makes it worse. I've also played MMOs where there were no parsers... It didn't make it any better.

[Sen_Terrechant]

Snip

You have a causation vs correlation issue.

Parsers do not cause abuse, toxic people cause abuse. Spoons did not make you fat.

Those same people will find other ways to abuse people.
I used to think parsers were 'evil' and that they could only bring games down. Then i realised they are just a tool, they are a thing- they do not cause people to be assholes. You cannot blame the 'thing' for peoples actions, you have to blame the people. Its as simple as filing an ingame report for harassment- the same option you would have parser or no parser. Its as simple as blacklisting them and reporting them, and before anyone says "We shouldnt have to do that."

You are right, you shouldnt but thats not the way the world works. In almost any community, game or otherwise, you will encounter them.

TL;DR: Dont blame an inanimate object for people being assholes, they would be anyways.

[NintenPyjak64]

Snip

I completely agree with what you say, but I'd like to talk about one segment

Its as simple as blacklisting them and reporting them, and before anyone says "We shouldnt have to do that."

You are right, you shouldnt but thats not the way the world works. In almost any community, game or otherwise, you will encounter them.

Anybody who says "We shouldn't have to do that" are the ones that are really wrong with the community. If you see somebody being rude/vulgar/whatever that's making people feel uncomfortable and harassed, reporting them could actually solve the issue at hand. Blacklisting (not applicable in instances), reporting and moving on is literally the best way to handle the situation, but most people refuse to do that, those people allow themselves to become sheep and bend over backwards for the wolves who are hungry for the attention.

[Sen_Terrechant]

Snip

Oh i completely agree with you!

Assholes can only be assholes if you let them, the best response is no response. Like its been said, blacklist and report- then move on.

[Viridiana]

Anybody who says "We shouldn't have to do that" are the ones that are really wrong with the community.

Well. . .we shouldn't have to, because people shouldn't be assholes. But once they are, yeah, reporting is the right option.

[Niota]

- Allow players to monitor their own DPS
- Allow players the option to "release" data to other players. If they dont want to share their DPS they dont have to. So in most cases say something derpy like tam-tara dps is non-issue.
- Crack down on players for abusing vote-kick or being abusive in general

Sure there are signs when a DD'er is being bad (not using heavy thrust, being in UI too long, etc) but there's so much going on who has time to notice this? And do you just comb through DD'ers one by one to figure out who is the problem? Everyone can point out failures in tanks/healers because it's so obvious; with damage spread out with 4 DD'ers this is not the case.

Even on a personal level I want to improve my DPS. How am I suppose to know what is the best rotation or gear set if I have no measuring stick to measure with?

[Myrhn]

If SE make a DPS meter i really hope they do it personal only. If you want to "help" others ask them what is their dps and give your critique. How I see it is if they put a dps meter accecible to everyone that track the party whole dps we will see some PF like "do 400dps or you are kick".

[Ricdeau]

Parsers do not cause abuse, toxic people cause abuse. Spoons did not make you fat.

Love it, man. You made my day.